HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 11/03/2005 1a1 02122 ,_
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Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
Advisory Committee Meeting
November 3, 2005
The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich' cane Room at Noon
on Thursday, November 3rd. Members Present: Grady Price Blount, Margaret Bolick, Sharon
Brower, Phyllis Riddle, and Linda Scott.
Upon motion by Phyllis Riddle and seconded by Linda Scott the minutes of the October 6, 2005
meeting were approved as presented.
Upon motion by Linda Scott and seconded by Phyllis Riddle the absences of Margaret Bolick
and Sharon Brower were excused for good cause.
Chairman's remarks: Grady Price Blount thanked Phyllis Riddle for her service as chair and
asked for her support along with that of other members in continuing the good work of the
Committee.
Business:
a. Rick Stryker observed that the new mission is storyline driven, defining the themes of the
exhibits and programs. The storylines transcend the period artifacts and scientific specimens in
the collection. Collecting activities focus on exhibit storylines rather than the reverse where
exhibits reflect the diversity of the collections. This suggests that the Museum's academically
inspired exhibit halls and case displays of systematic collections will be gradually replaced by
compelling storylines. This will require that more staff time and financial resources will be
directed toward public programming to provide an"experiential"approach to exhibits.
There will be a reduction in staff time and financial resources for collection care and a greater
orientation toward providing a direct public benefit through the collections. This is consistent
with the trends both nationally and internationally. Rick spent some time reviewing the
Collections for the Future, a 2005 report of the Museums Association of the United Kingdom.
This report is explicit about a new approach to collecting for public benefit rather than the once
prevalent collecting for collections sake practice which is based on a more scholarly paradigm.
The American Association of Museum has not been as explicit in recognizing the shift away
from the centrality of collecting to the mission of museums,but there is now a Collections
Exchange Center set up on the AAM web site. This is to support museums that are narrowing
their collection focus by helping to match institutions with closed collections with institutions
where collections are more likely to be exposed to their highest and best public use.
Consistent with the new mission, the Corpus Christi Museum collection staff has been charged
with identifying the key objects that are integral to the story lines encompassed by our new
mission and with creating a collection plan that focuses on our educational mission,
discontinuing our role as a warehouse for irrelevant objects.
b. Rick Stryker reported that the Texas Historical Commission at their meeting in Jefferson
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approved the recommendation that the Museum be recognized as a certified curatorial facility.
The Museum is the first repository certified under this new program that is mandatory for all
State repositories that wish to continue receiving state associated collections. This certification
demonstrates that the Museum has met the highest professional standards set by the state.
c. Rick reported that attendance for October and specifically for Columbus Days programming
was up significantly. October attendance was up 17% over 2004 and school group participation
in Columbus programs was up 57%.
d. Committee members were asked to review the strategic objectives proposed by staff following
a discussion at the last meeting, Grady Price Blount revised the objectives based on the
discussion and distributed them to Committee members. After discussion, Margaret Bolick
moved and Phyllis Ridlle seconded the motion that the measurable objectives be adopted. The
motion passed unanimously.
e. Members were provided a revised draft of the Proposal for the Creation of the Hispanic
Heritage Center at the Museum. It was suggested that the Hispanic Heritage Center name be
copyrighted, if possible.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.